Synthesis of amino acid derivatives via enantio- and diastereoselective Pd-catalyzed allylic substitutions with a non-stabilized enolate as nucleophile.

Diastereomer ratios of up to 95:5 and enantiomeric excesses of up to 95% were achieved in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric alyllic substitutions with zinc enolates of glycine esters as nucleophiles; a remarkable effect of the ligand on the diastereoselectivity of the substitution was found.